381 



EGYPT. 



tn tin- kingdom of Egypt ; and Tum.in Bey, Uie last of 

 ^^ V"^ the Circassian or llorgile dynasty, was basely put to 

 death at Tavila, one of the gates of Grand Cairo. 



The race of princes who were now seated upon the 

 throne of Constantino) >led Egypt to their 



dominions, derived their origin from tin- Scvthmn or 

 Tartar tribes, ami were afterwards denominated Turk-. 

 from the word in their own language which denotes a 

 "'''" helmet. Selim, though a younger son, got possession 



of the Turkish government, by depot-ing his father, and 

 putting to death his elder brother-. The -.une ambi- 

 tion which impelled him to deeds so cruel and unnatu- 

 ral, induced him, in a way more honourable for a war- 

 rior, to establish his power, and extend his empire. He 

 successfully invaded the kingdom of Persia, engaged 

 the Egyptian forces at A leppo.and, after various success- 

 ful efforts, carried his victorious course to the banks of 

 the Nile, and easily became master of the country, 

 which had long been agitated by internal commotions, 

 and was then in a revolutionary state. 



He continued for a considerable time in Egypt, and 

 settled the form of government, alter the manner which 

 had lieen adopted by the Turkish sultans. He convey- 

 ed with him to Constantinople the caliph, or spiritual 

 head of the Mahommedan religion. Upon his death, 

 another was appointed in his stead ; but at his demise, 

 the order of caliphs terminated, and a mufti was substi- 

 tuted, who had the supreme direction of the Moslem 

 faith ; while the uleina, or chosen body of men, are in- 

 vested with the power of interpreting the Koran. Imams, 

 or persons subordinate to the mufti, are sent into the 

 different provinces, and four of them were appointed to 

 Egypt. In the early times of the Turkish or Ottoman 

 government, there were only two Beys, who, in the ca- 

 pacity of chief governors, presided over the dominions 

 of the Turks. One of them had the command of the 

 European provinces, and the other was entrusted with 

 the command of Asia Minor. As the Ottoman empire 

 was extended, the number of the Beys were increased ; 

 and each of those in chief command was called Beyler- 

 bey, or Prince of Princes. At first there was a Pasha 

 of Egypt, with sixteen Sanjiaks under his authority; 

 but in process of time, the Sanjiaks were exchanged for 

 twenty-four Mamelukes, who also assumed the name of 

 Bey, or princes, to whom the government of the vari- 

 ous provinces was entrusted. 



In die most perfect fonii of the Turkish government 

 in Egypt, it consisted of a divan, or council of regency, 

 composed of those who commanded the military bodies, 

 and whose president was the Pasha or viceroy. From 

 the Mameluke beys, who commanded the provinces, 

 were chosen the Sheik al Belled, or governor of Grand 

 Cairo; the Janizary Aga, or commander of the Janiza- 

 ries ; the Defterdar, or accountant-general ; the Emir 

 A Hage, or conductor of the caravan ; the Emir al Said, 

 or governor of Upper Egypt ; and the Sheik al Bikke- 

 ri, or director of the sherifs. In subordination to these, 

 there were cashiphs, or deputies, and other officers of 

 inferior note. 



Soliman 1.^ Soliman I. succeeded his father Selim ; and he not 

 A. D. 1520. on jy began his reign by crushing rebellion in the pro- 

 vinces, and adding dominions to his empire, but his 

 name was terrible among the nations. I le was the 

 competitor of Charles V. and overthrew the power of 

 the knights in the island of Uhodes. But even in his 

 time the factions in Kgypt were not at rest; and in the 

 more feeble reigns of his successors upon the throne, 

 the Ottoman pow< r in that country was much impair- 

 ed, and the furm of government at lust changed. The 



liey*, who superintended the M departments in F.gypt. History, 

 collected the revenues of their resjRTtive districts ; and ~~~<~~^ 

 by that means acquired an influence which was not in- 

 tended. The heads of the seven military corps and the 

 pasha became ::\ ind courted the favour of the 



''hit could enforce the p.i\;ncnt of tribute with 

 v, or remit it in part, according to their | 

 sure. 



By indulging the members of the regency, the ! 

 increased in |>owcr till they obtained the complete di 

 of public aiiairs. I-'.very bey had originally a few 

 Mamelukes or slaves at his command, for enabling him 

 to make his authority respected in the province where 

 he resided; but as the power of the liey- w/.- in! .-u 

 they increased their attendants, and in proportion to 

 their number of slaves, so was their strength. When u 

 vacancy occurred in the government of the provi; 

 the mo.-t powerful bey had his favourite Mameluk> 

 pointed to the office: this election increased his autho- 

 rity; and, by pursuing a similar course, the most active 

 and ]K)werful beys acquired a continually increasing in- 

 fluence in the government, and their Mamelukes be- 

 came the only efficient soldiers in the state. 



The members of the divan having become subservient TJ le . 

 to the pleasure of the beys, the beys got possession of _ OWCT 8r " 

 every important office, with the exception of the vice- 

 roy's appointment. But in their career of dissipation, 

 the paslia of Egypt also became subject to the Mame- 

 luke beys. The Sheik Albelled, or governor of Grand 

 Cairo, was chosen from amongst the beys, but he was 

 approved or rejected by the pasha. The Sheik Albel- 

 led was the constitutional organ through wliich com- 

 plaints were made to the Grand Signior, when the pa- 

 sha violated the rights of the community ; but to re- 

 move him from his office could only be done by the 

 sultan himself. But in process of time, when the di- 

 van fell under the controul of the beys, they dismissed 

 them at pleasure ; and when a new one was ap- 

 pointed, if they discovered by their spies, that he wa- 

 entrusted with any mandate inconsistent with their 

 views or authority, they never suffered him to approach 

 Grand Cairo, but intimated at Constantinople, that ano- 

 ther paslia must be chosen. 



In these circumstances of the Egyptian government, 

 an active "youth among the slaves who were brought from 

 -the neighbourhood of Mount Caucasus, grew up to great 

 influence and fame in the house of his m^tor Ibrahim, 

 who was a caya of the Janizaries. Like other Mame- AH **? 

 lukes, this young slave became a Mussulman, and re- 

 ceived the name of AH. Having gone through differ- 

 ent offices in the house and service of his master, he was 

 raised to the office and rank of a bey. t'pon the death 

 of Ibrahim, to whom he owed his power and elevation, 

 considerable commotions existed ; and in the year l~ti;i, 

 All Bey obtained the office of Sheik Albelled, by which 

 he was invested with the chief authority of the state. 



In the struggle for power, AH Bey was more than 

 once obliged to flee from Egypt, and seek refuge in Pa- 

 lestine or Syria. lie became obnoxious to the Turkish 

 Divan, and the Gr;.nd Signior sought his destruction. 

 But in the year 1768, the court of Constantinople pro- 

 claimed war against the Emperor of Uussi.i ; and while 

 the Ottoman^ were employed in defending their pro- 

 vinces again-l the northern in. li Hey was not 

 only active in reducing Eg\pt to obedience; but he sent 

 an army into Arabia Felix, for purposes of conquest and 

 aggrandi-ciuent. The troops of All, under tile conduct 

 of Mahommed Bey, were successful against the Turkisji 

 garrisons; and they took pone^sion of Gaza, Kuml.i, 



